City to use message boards to guide traffic

BOB MACK/The Times-Union--9/22/10-- A flashing information sign told motorists at San Marco Blvd. and Cedar Street that the detours that are a part of the San Marco Streetscape project will begin on September 27th. The city is giving San Marco Boulevard the now-standard historic area facelift as the street is reconstructed. The facelift is scheduled to take until February 2011, when the project is estimated to be completed, San Marco will be torn up between Gary and Cedar streets and will allow only northbound traffic. Southbound traffic will be routed west along Gary Street, south on Palm Avenue and then back east to San Marco on Cedar Street. The sign was photographed on Wednesday September 22, 2010. (The Florida Times-Union, Bob Mack)

The City of St. Augustine has announced it will make use of roadside message boards to help guide visitors to available parking spaces during this weekend’s Rhythm & Ribs Festival.

A news release from the city noted that it is not uncommon for the nearly 1,200 spaces at the downtown parking garage to fill up quickly on busy weekends, especially during popular events like this three-day celebration.

To help those looking for a place to park after the parking facility has reached capacity, the city will make use of variable message boards to alert drivers that the facility is no longer available and to direct them to areas where parking may be available.

Then, as parking becomes available in the facility, the signs will reflect that availability.

The message boards will be located along Ponce de Leon Boulevard and San Marco Avenue, and they will point drivers toward alternative locations in private parking areas along San Marco.

Those who park along San Marco will not have to walk to Francis Field, site of the Rhythm & Ribs Festival, but will have access to a free shuttle provided by Old Town Trolley Tours of St. Augustine.

To lessen the impact on neighborhoods in the vicinity, event parking will be prohibited in both the Abbott Tract and Uptown Neighborhoods. Streets in the affected area will be signed to alert festivalgoers of the restrictions.

The message boards and restricted parking in the neighborhoods will be in effect on today, Saturday and Sunday.